Final answer:
During condensation, a compound's molecules slow down and move closer together as energy is released, transitioning the substance from a gas to a solid or liquid.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a compound condensates, the molecules move closer together as they transition from a gas to a solid or liquid due to an increase in pressure or a decrease in temperature. During condensation, energy is released, which must be transferred out of the system, usually as heat, as the attractive forces bring the molecules together. This is seen when gaseous water forms liquid droplets on a cold surface, like the condensation on a cold glass.
In a gas, the molecules are moving rapidly and are far apart. When the gas condenses to a solid, as pressure is increased, the molecules come closer together and their movement becomes more restricted. If the pressure is increased further, the solid may melt to become a liquid, where the intermolecular forces are less restrictive than in a solid but more so than in a gas. At this point, the molecules are moving but still remain close together.